Chapter 93

“Oh my, how lovely!”  

With her newfound freedom, the first thing Harriet did was resolve Claire’s situation.  

Everyone involved agreed to transfer the child’s custody and parental rights to her biological mother, Claire, while continuing to provide child support. In exchange, visitation rights would be granted once a month.  

At first, Franz had been furious, but even Olivia had intervened, threatening divorce if he didn’t comply. He had no choice but to accept.  

Margaret, cradling her only granddaughter in her arms, couldn’t contain her joy.  

“My granddaughter, you’re so beautiful. You’ll grow up to be a stunning young lady. Suitors will be lining up for you.”  

“Mother, what are you even saying to a newborn?”  

Aaron chuckled as he lightly tapped the baby’s nose. The sleeping baby let out a long yawn, and Margaret, overwhelmed with adoration, showed the baby to Harriet.  

“Look at her, isn’t she just precious? I can’t believe such an adorable baby is my granddaughter.”  

“Yes, she’s cute.”  

Harriet smiled faintly, then turned her back, watching Margaret dote on the baby with a complex expression.  

The baby in her arms, while Margaret’s first granddaughter, was an illegitimate child born out of wedlock. Harriet suddenly wondered how Margaret had felt when Franz had brought her, a child born outside his marriage, into their home. She must have hated and rejected her—because that would have been natural.  

But seeing how Margaret treated the baby now, Harriet realized those feelings of resentment couldn’t have lasted long. Margaret was inherently kind and incapable of holding grudges for long.  

Harriet had always admired and loved her mother for that.  

Looking back, she regretted the time she had misunderstood and pushed her mother away, simply because Margaret had hesitated when asked if she loved her.  

She now understood that a woman, even if the child wasn’t born from her own womb, would see that child as her own once she accepted them into her heart.  

“Coco, when you have your baby, they’ll be just as adorable as this one. A granddaughter would be lovely, but a grandson would be nice too. It’s good to have a balance.”  

“Oh, Mother. It’s not your baby; it’s Sister’s. As long as the baby is born healthy, what more could you want?”  

“I don’t want to listen to you. You’re not even married.”  

Margaret scolded Aaron playfully before handing the baby over to him. Beaming, Aaron cradled his niece with eyes full of affection. Margaret chuckled at the sight before sipping her tea, now slightly cooled.  

“Where is my brother?”  

“He’ll be here soon. He must be nervous about meeting his child for the first time.”  

The baby was a perfect blend of Theodore and Claire, making it impossible for any gossips to fabricate baseless rumors.  

“Did you know, Harriet?”  

As Harriet gazed at the baby cradled in Aaron’s arms, Margaret suddenly brought up a new topic.  

“You might not have noticed, but she looks a little like you when you were young.”  

“Like me?”  

“Yes, those stubborn eyebrows of yours. They’re exactly the same. It’s unmistakable that she’s your niece.”  

“I didn’t notice before, but now that you mention it, I think I see it.”  

Harriet chuckled softly and leaned in to examine the baby’s face more closely. As she did, Margaret, after taking a sip from her cup, muttered to herself.  

“Still, we’ve done Olivia wrong.”  

“…”  

“But I’m so grateful she stood by us. I can’t express how much that means. Honestly, if she had insisted on sending the child abroad with her biological mother, I wouldn’t have been able to argue.”  

“Olivia is so much like you, Mother.”  

“Do you think so?”  

“Yes. She has a heart as broad as yours and an understanding so deep that no one else could match it.”  

The harsh words Harriet had once flung at Olivia in frustration now came back to her like daggers.  

The only reason they could now hold the baby without clashing with Claire was because Olivia had stepped forward and supported Harriet during her conflict with their father.  

“Would you like to hold her, Sister?”  

Aaron, interpreting Harriet’s gaze as a desire to hold the baby, gestured toward her.  

“Sure.”  

Harriet nodded and extended her arms. Just then, the butler knocked and announced a visitor.  

“Madam, the eldest young master has arrived.”  

“Mother!”  

Theodore burst into the drawing room, scanning the surroundings before his eyes landed on the baby.  

“So this is my daughter!”  

“Hold her carefully. She’s still a newborn.”  

“Of course!”  

Theodore, dressed impeccably for the occasion, carefully took the baby from Aaron’s arms. The baby, sensing her father’s presence, smiled faintly and grasped Theodore’s finger.  

“Ah…”  

Overwhelmed, Theodore stared silently at the baby in his arms for a moment.  

“My child.”  

Harriet observed her brother quietly.  

Months ago, when Claire had announced her pregnancy, he had scoffed and accused her of carrying another man’s child. Yet now, holding his daughter, he seemed to be on the verge of tears, overwhelmed by emotion.  

Harriet wondered what it would feel like to hold a child who carried her own flesh and blood. She instinctively looked down at her own belly, now nearing full term.  

In the early stages of her pregnancy, it had been hard to believe that a new life was growing inside her. But as she began to feel the baby’s movements, the reality of the life within her became undeniable.  

Each day brought a mix of anticipation and fear.  

“Where’s Olivia?”  

As soon as the question left her lips, the door opened again, and Olivia entered.  

While everyone else remained focused on the baby, Harriet was the only one to greet her.  

“Livvy.”  

“Harriet.”  

Their last meeting had ended in a heated argument, making this encounter somewhat awkward. Feeling guilty and ashamed, Harriet avoided Olivia’s gaze. Olivia, however, stepped closer and took Harriet’s hand.  

“I’m glad to see you’re healthy. And the baby seems to be growing well, too.”  

“Yes… Thank you.”  

Harriet nodded and immediately apologized.  

“I’m sorry about last time. I said things in the heat of the moment that I didn’t mean.”  

“It’s okay. If anything, it helped me realize a few things.”  

“Realize… what?”  

Olivia smiled meaningfully and changed the subject.  

“You must be tired standing. Sit down; it must be hard with your heavy belly.”  

Nodding, Harriet settled back onto the couch, and Olivia naturally took a seat beside her.  

“Olivia! Look at this baby! Isn’t she just beautiful?”  

Theodore, still brimming with excitement, held the baby out for Olivia to see.  

As the other three held their breath nervously, Olivia silently gazed down at the baby. Then, with a radiant smile, she gently stroked the baby’s forehead.  

“Her forehead looks just like yours. Her eyebrows resemble Harriet’s. And her nose… it must take after her mother’s.”  

“Olivia…”  

Margaret let out a sigh and dabbed at the tears pooling in her eyes with a handkerchief.  

“I’m so grateful to you, and I’m sorry.”  

“There’s no need. I made the decision to accept this.”  

Shaking her head, Olivia glanced seriously at Margaret, Theodore, Aaron, and Harriet in turn.  

“I have something to say.”  

“Whatever it is, just say it. If it’s a request, we’ll do everything we can.”  

“I…”  

After taking a deep breath, Olivia spoke calmly.  

“I’m thinking of living separately.”  

The atmosphere in the room instantly froze.  

“What?”  

Theodore was the first to react to the bombshell. Handing the baby back to Aaron, he jumped to his feet in disbelief.  

“What nonsense is this? We’re married! How can you suggest living apart?”  

“Do you have a reason? You’re not asking for a divorce, are you?”  

“No, Mother. I still love him. It’s just…”  

Olivia sighed before continuing.  

“I don’t want to devote my entire life to depending on him. I want to live separately and seriously think about my own life. And…”  

Lowering her gaze briefly, Olivia glanced at Harriet before turning back to Margaret.  

“I want to figure out whether I love him purely for who he is or if I’m just trying to take responsibility for my choice.”  

“…”  

“Only when I’ve reached a conclusion… only then will I be able to fully accept that child as my daughter without a shred of resentment.”  

“But you’re not raising her! The child will stay with her biological mother!”  

Theodore, looking increasingly desperate, turned to Margaret for support.  

“Mother, this is ridiculous. Please…”  

“Be quiet, Theodore.”  

Cutting off her son’s plea with a cold voice, Margaret took Olivia’s hand.  

“Do as you wish, Olivia. Whatever decision you make, we will respect it.”  

It was then that Harriet, sitting on the couch, felt a sudden wetness below her. She looked down in shock.  

“Sister!”  

“Harriet!”  

Everyone’s faces turned pale. Margaret, panicked, called for the doctor. Harriet’s water had broken, soaking the floor beneath her.  

It was an early delivery.